EFFECT OF SOIL AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ZINC AND SULPHUR ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.) UNDER IRRIGATED AND RAINFED CONDITIONS

Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, rice is a staple food as well as a cash crop for both commercial and smallholder farmers. However, the yield is very low, because of inherent low soil fertility, as well as poor agronomic techniques. Multiple-location studies were conducted at Botanga (irrigated) and Nyankpala (rain-fed) to determine the most effective way to apply Zn and S to rice and to assess the effect of Zn and S, on rice grain yield. The treatments evaluated were foliar spray of NPK [Zn + S], NPK [S], NPK [Zn] and soil application of NPK + Zn + S, NPK + S, NPK + Zn, NPK [No Micronutrients] and Control [No Fertilizer]. A Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications were used to evaluate the treatments. Number of tillers, plant height, leaf area (LA), chlorophyll content, panicle weight, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity, straw weight, grain yield and thousand (1000) paddy rice weight were among the parameters measured. The use of NPK in combination with zinc and sulphur improved measured growth and yield attributes while also shortening the time taken by the rice plant to blossom and mature. The soil application NPK in addition to Zn and S produced the maximum grain yield, which was comparable to foliar spray of NPK in combination of Zn and S. The application of NPK, secondary elements and micronutrients should be used to optimize yield in rice production systems.